BBC director general Mark Thompson has unveiled surprise plans to enter into contractual relationships with the local and regional newspaper industry.

He announced the move at the Society of Editors’ conference in Glasgow, where regional editors have previously voiced fears over the corporation’s ultra-local television news strategy.

But Mark talked of the BBC as a potential partner rather than a threat to other media organisations, and said that the corporation was considering boosting its local digital services by paying the print media for stories.

In his keynote address he said: “We want to draw on the newsgathering clout of the UK’s local and regional newspapers – and we’ll pay for it. That means a revenue stream, but also visibility and credit on the BBC’s new local service.”

He told local editors he planned to “enrich” current coverage, “partner with them and draw on the journalistic strength they have on the ground”.

He added: “We want to use these partnerships to exchange knowledge and skills. Local newspapers can offer us granularity much finer than our own local services.

“They also offer an extraordinary depth of local knowledge. For newspapers who want to add sound and moving pictures to their web offering, a partnership with the BBC could make a lot of sense.

“In this destructive and unsettling period of change it can be tempting to turn on those closest to you.

“Any competition – even familiar competition – can seem threatening and dangerous. In fact the destructive forces we face are global ones, and often spearheaded by global businesses. It may be that – within the right context and, of course with the right safeguards – we can meet some of these forces more successfully together.”

Editors at the event gave a mixed reaction to the news, which follows a trial in the West Midlands where the BBC worked with Trinity Mirror and the Press Association on ultra-local television news.

Manchester Evening News editor Paul Horrocks said: “It was definitely a step in a positive direction, and something I welcome.

“I’m pleased the director general understood what a hot topic it was for the local press, and it has been able to reduce resistance.

“This opens new questions, such as ‘how much money?’ and the exact details of these partnerships.”

Liz Griffin, the editor of the Hereford Times, experienced the trial and has her reservations on the impact it will have on local journalism but said: “If there is going to be a discussion on the payment for some of our local journalists that might be a different matter.”

Andy Cooper, editor-in-chief of Cornwall & Devon Media, said: “You won’t be surprised to hear that the news editors’ ears have pricked up with the news that the BBC will pay for the local news content.”

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